NY chicken lover!!!!

[cutipatooti]

My broody hatched a baby Friday night, but she accidentally crushed it. She was still sitting on two more eggs, but I didn't hear any peeps from either of them. We went to TSC and picked up 6 RSL, slipped those under her Saturday afternoon, and removed the two remaining eggs. She and the babies have taken to each other quite well. I am very pleased. I checked the two eggs, and neither of them were viable, so everything worked out great. Mama is getting up and moving a little now and has been eating too. The babies are quite entertaining to watch with her. 

Dave

Sorry to hear about your chick. I can remember as a child the only chick our hens ever hatched was crushed also. I'm glad it worked out with the chicks from TSC.

 

[cutipatooti]

Here is my incubator. I'll write up a page on how to do it tomorrow. I have replaced one of the light bulbs with a 150w clear heat lamp to see if I can get the temp up. I may have to add two. Humidity is holding well at 43%.

Drawer is a Hatcher.

I wired a digital thermostat to the two light bulbs to regulate the heat. There is a probe attached to the thermostat that is set at the egg turner level.

very nice. One day I may just make one myself. Looks like it could be fun.

 

[cutipatooti]

I want to encourage those of you who say you have no carpentry skills to learn I retired three years ago and taught myself how to build things. I'm a senior citizen and only 5'3" and my current project is a 30X32 horse barn that I am building by myself. My daughter helps once i a while to lift things that are too heavy for one person or hold one end steady while I secure things, but mostly I am on my own. Since I have arthritis and fibromyalgia, lighter tools are a big help in keeping control of power tools and safe handling. I have a Ridgid Fuego power saw with a smaller 6" blade and a compact size Dewalt drill/driver that are just right for my smaller hands and light enough to handle easily. They do all the same things my son-in-law's big heavy versions do. Here is the first build of a 12X8 coop with his help, showing me how to do things. The next coop I did on my own by starting with a single 6X6 coop on one end and a closed run. The entire thing is 6X16. The next year I closed in the other end for another 6X6 coop with a feed area in the middle. I also built a turkey pen out of 10X10 kennel panels with a real metal roof over it, a coop from a calf hutch, a small 4X4 grow out coop, and a duck hutch. The point being that you learn how to do it as you practice. It isn't necessary to be a carpenter and know how to calculate all the angles and get it all perfect. I keep saying to myself, "It's only a chicken coop" when something is off by 1/2". No big deal Instead of stressing over all the cuts, just get a big level (4') to make sure everything is reasonably level and plumb and mark your cuts by a combination of measuring (get a good metal tape) and holding the piece up where it is going to go and marking it in place. This even worked with the 2X6X12 rafters on the barn. The biggest mistake on the first coop was using rough cut green lumber thinking I would save money. Every piece was a little different and needed a custom cut and fit. When I checked later I found I could get the same thing in finished lumber for the same price. It's amazing how easily things go together when you use clean straight lumber to start with. Here is a link to how the duck hutch was put together with pictures and instructions that I entered into the coop contest on this site. Yes, I tied for first prize with it. The instructions are written for a beginner and may help you understand how to build your own coop. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/scrap-duck-hut Sorry for the long post, but I know how frustrating it is to think you can't do something yourself, and I know you can.

Beautiful coops! I have not built anything that big yet as I am only renting and want to be able to bring my coops with me when I buy a home.

 

[tao chick]

Here is my incubator. I'll write up a page on how to do it tomorrow. I have replaced one of the light bulbs with a 150w clear heat lamp to see if I can get the temp up. I may have to add two. Humidity is holding well at 43%.







Drawer is a Hatcher.



I wired a digital thermostat to the two light bulbs to regulate the heat. There is a probe attached to the thermostat that is set at the egg turner level.

I think the most impressive part is how quickly you built it. My first incubator took several days. My current incubator build isn't done yet because I keep struggling with finding a way to get the auto turner right. I've been working on it for over a week and finally just skipped ahead to the light/heat part. Here's mine so far:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1085481/taos-incubator-build-notes/20#post_16693339

 

[Purpletie3]

Here is my incubator. I'll write up a page on how to do it tomorrow. I have replaced one of the light bulbs with a 150w clear heat lamp to see if I can get the temp up. I may have to add two. Humidity is holding well at 43%.

This looks beautiful!!! Nice job!

 

[nposluszny]

A little messy in the back garage, but the bottom of the tractor has taken shape! Final dimensions should be about 4'x8'x6' but we'll see. I'm not using pallets, going to the 70% off lumber section at Home Depot and had them cut it to rough dimernsions for me, as I don't have my large radial arm saw up and running (brushes?). Made sure to paint and attach wire to the underside before building up, darn near forgot about that....would hate to flip a whole tractor to add wire. I pick up my girls tomorrow (hopefully) so darn egg-cited! *bad puns, lol*

 

[akaruby]

Yep so the incubator is the whole thing basically, middle shelf is where the turners go and I'll put the eggs in the drawer for hatch. I figured out my temp problem. I didn't make the holes big enough for the light bulbs to actually screw in the whole way in the sockets. Once I fixed that temp is great. My digital thermostat will shut off from time to time and turn back on to regulate it. I have some silkie eggs coming and mottled ameraucana with room for more.

 

[rancher hicks]

@ Aka, I wish you well. I'm about to pull the plug on my incu. I just don't think it's worth the trouble of cleaning it again and dealing with any chicks that do hatch.

@ Everyone else, The price of chickens is to low to bother with raising chickens to sell POL. Most folks don't care what the chicks are anyhow. Cheap is the right price and breed.

I've got six chicks I'll most likely have to GIVE away. One a Marsh Daisy. I stick FREE on CL and all the crazies come out of the woodwork. Most never even heard of BYC. They'd rather keep taking FREE chickens than spend a buck to keep healthy birds. Or protect them from predators. I wouldn't keep a Silky the way I've seen some folks keep chickens.

I was talking to a friend today and he says he's getting a hole bunch of geese and coy. I don't remember how many but a lot. Geese he says are easier to care for than chickens. I said they weren't but he wouldn't listen.

IMO I expect he thinks he's going to let them swim on the pond and nothings going to get them. I bet he didn't do the research but is going off the top of his head. I had some ducks and they were messy to raise up and alot of work cleaning the brooder. Heck chickens need lots of cleaning in the brooder. Then there is the water in a pool if you don't have a pond. I know they don't need a pool but they do need lots of clean water to wash their noses. He'll find out. I'm dreading hearing the fox got his geese.

He says, so and so, will take my chickens, but one the fact is no one wants to pay fair price for a chicken and two I'm sick and tired of hearing about foxes and coyotes getting chickens. Then there was the ones that got hit by a car. Too the husband just shoots any that turn out to be roosters. The last time I gave them chicks quite a few were roosters so he just shot them. These are friends of ours but I don't see eye to eye on chicken keeping.

I guess I just get tired of thinking some folks always needing more chickens to replace the ones they didn't properly care for the first six times. My nephews both lost their entire flocks. "Something got in and killed them all ". It's one thing if folks eat them but to let something get in and kill them? Makes me mad as the dickens. They never came to BYC either.

So if you're a BYC member and you get me and you'd like these six chicks give me a holler. They're the last I'll be hatching. Not even broodies will be getting eggs here. I expect Big Delores will be about to go. She's still laying even though she's about four, but she spends most of her year sitting on her butt trying to become a mother. Crazy bird! I usually give her some eggs, cuz I like her.

She's a Light Sussex I got from Marq in a trade. If you missed getting any from her when she went out that is a shame. Big Delores is a nice bird.

TTFN, hope no one got offended, it's been a tough day

Rancher Hicks

 

[Gramma Chick]

They'd rather keep taking FREE chickens than spend a buck to keep healthy birds. Or protect them from predators. I wouldn't keep a Silky the way I've seen some folks keep chickens.
I AGREE take good care of your chickens ..you dont need to replace them ..
My hubby thinks I have too many at 20 ..coz we keep them till they die ..

Too the husband just shoots any that turn out to be roosters.
He could at least butcher them & eat them for dinner
So if you're a BYC member and you get me and you'd like these six chicks give me a holler.
Do you know the breeds ? Age of Chicks
TTFN, hope no one got offended, it's been a tough day
Sorry youve had a bad day ..Tomorrow will be better

Maybe we will get Sunshine ..that always helps me feel better
Rancher Hicks

 

[Mitch Mullenax]

@ Aka,  I wish you well. I'm about to pull the plug on my incu. I just don't think it's worth the trouble of cleaning it again and dealing with any chicks that do hatch. 

@ Everyone else, The price of chickens is to low to bother with raising chickens to sell POL.   Most folks don't care what the chicks are anyhow. Cheap is the right price and breed. 

I've got six chicks I'll most likely have to GIVE away.  One a Marsh Daisy.  I stick FREE on CL and all the crazies come out of the woodwork. Most never even heard of BYC.  They'd rather keep taking FREE chickens than spend a buck to keep healthy birds. Or protect them from predators. I wouldn't keep a Silky the way I've seen some folks keep chickens. 

I was talking to a friend today and he says he's getting a hole bunch of geese and coy.  I don't remember how many but a lot.  Geese he says are easier to care for than chickens. I said they weren't but he wouldn't listen.

IMO I expect he thinks he's going to let them swim on the pond and nothings going to get them.  I bet he didn't do the research but is going off the top of his head.  I had some ducks and they were messy to raise up and alot of work cleaning the brooder. Heck chickens need lots of cleaning in the brooder. Then there is the water in a pool if you don't have a pond. I know they don't need a pool but they do need lots of clean water to wash their noses. He'll find out.  I'm dreading hearing the fox got his geese.  

He says, so and so, will take my chickens, but one the fact is no one wants to pay fair price for a chicken and two I'm sick and tired of hearing about foxes and coyotes getting chickens.  Then there was the ones that got hit by a car. Too the husband just shoots any that turn out to be roosters. The last time I gave them chicks quite a few were roosters so he just shot them. These are friends of ours but I don't see eye to eye on chicken keeping.   

I guess I just get tired of thinking some folks always needing more chickens to replace the ones they didn't properly care for the first six times. My nephews both lost their entire flocks. "Something got in and killed them all ".  It's one thing if folks eat them but to let something get in and kill them?  Makes me mad as the dickens. They never came to BYC either. 

So if you're a BYC member and you get me and you'd like these six chicks give me a holler. They're the last I'll be hatching. Not even broodies will be getting eggs here. I expect Big Delores will be about to go. She's still laying even though she's about four, but she spends most of her year sitting on her butt trying to become a mother. Crazy bird!  I usually give her some eggs, cuz I like her.

She's a Light Sussex I got from Marq in a trade. If you missed getting any from her when she went out that is a shame. Big Delores is a nice bird. 

TTFN, hope no one got offended, it's been a tough day

Rancher Hicks

I can hear your frustration. I am new to chickens. I have spent an unreal amount of money and my birds have not even arrived yet. May I encourage you to continue best practices. It helps the craft. As for giving away birds to irresponsible people. No way! Thanks for posting your thoughts.